Bottom deck assembly for refrigerated merchandiser

Abstract

A refrigerated merchandiser (10) includes a cabinet (20) defining an interior product display space (100) and a refrigeration unit (50) is disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment (55) beneath the lower deck (24). An opening in the lower deck provides an air return inlet (102) establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space (100) to the compartment (55) beneath the lower deck. A cover (120) includes a top plate member (122) disposed superadjacent the return air inlet and a downwardly extending peripheral side flange (124) disposed about the periphery of the top plate member (122). A plurality of air intake ports (125) are provided in the peripheral side flange (124). The lower deck (24) has a recessed upper surface (124C) facing the product display space (100). A grille plate (130) extends across the air return inlet.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/663,388, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled SPILL PREVENTION FORMED FEATRUE ON BOTTOM DECK AND SPILL PROFF DISCHARGE GRILL COVER TO BE USED IN COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION UNITS THAT CONTAIN CASSETTE REFRIGERATIION SYSTEMS, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

This application is related to the following applications subject to assignment to the common assignee of this application and filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the same date as this application:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210_—817NP), entitled “REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER”;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210_—816NP), entitled “SEALING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE”;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210_—820NP), entitled “MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE”;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210_—879NP), entitled “MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE WITH CONDENSATE EVAPORATIVE TRAY”; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210_—819NP), entitled “EVAPORATOR FAN/MOTOR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BRACKET”.

Each of the afore-listed patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to refrigerated merchandisers in general and, more particularly, to refrigerated display cabinets including modular cassette refrigeration units stowed in a compartment beneath the product display zone of the refrigerated cabinet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refrigerated merchandisers have a refrigeration system associated therewith for providing the cooled environment within a refrigerated interior product space defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigeration systems of such refrigerated merchandisers commonly employ a conventional refrigeration cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively associated with the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet, as well as a condenser, a condenser fan, and compressor. In stand alone cabinets, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in an equipment compartment separate from and insulated from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. Refrigerant lines connect the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. A refrigerant is circulated by the compressor through the condenser and the evaporator before returning to the compressor. Air within the insulated refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet is circulated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant so as to cool the air. The evaporator and evaporator fan may be disposed within the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the upper region thereof.

However, it is well-known that the evaporator and evaporator fan may also be housed in the equipment compartment in a section of the equipment compartment insulated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated merchandisers of this type may be used as product display cabinets for refrigerated or frozen foods, as vending machines, and as cold beverage merchandisers in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail establishments. For example, cold beverages, such as soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, etc. are commonly displayed in refrigerated merchandisers for self-service purchase by customers. Conventional beverage merchandisers of this type include an insulated cabinet defining a refrigerated interior product display space having one or more glass doors that provide access to that product display space. The beverage product, typically in cans or bottles, single or in six-packs, is stored on shelves within the refrigerated display space of the cabinet. To purchase a beverage, the customer opens one of the doors and reaches into the refrigerated cabinet to retrieve the desired product from the shelf.

Refrigerated merchandisers equipped with refrigeration units disposed beneath the refrigerated cabinet are disclosed, for example, by Rudick et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,827; 5,402,654; 5,417,079; and 5,417,081. In these refrigerated merchandisers, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit flows up from the equipment compartment through a flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet, along the top wall of the cabinet toward the front of the cabinet and down the front of the cabinet to the floor of the product display zone. Refrigerated air may also enter the product display zone from the rear flow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display zone. The refrigerated air from the product display zone returns to the equipment compartment, entering thereto upstream of the evaporative refrigerant unit through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor.

Therefore, a relatively large opening exists in the floor of the cabinet through which undesireable spill liquids and other contaminants may enter the refrigeration unit during operation, service or transportation. Spilled liquids draining into the refrigeration unit from the product display zone through the air inlet opening may foul or otherwise damage refrigerant unit components such as the evaporator heat exchanger coils, motors and fans. Liquid spills could originate from product breakage within the product display zone, cleaning and maintenance operations, or condensation. Further, loosen bottle wrappers, paper and other litter may be entrained in the air stream passing from the product display zone through the air inlet and be carried into the evaporator and clog part of the flow area through the evaporator.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,421, Maynard et al. disclose a modular refrigeration unit housed in a compartment beneath the interior product display area of a refrigerated merchandiser. In the merchandiser disclosed therein, refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit enters the product display zone through a central rear flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet and returns to the refrigeration from the product display zone through a pair of lateral rear flow ducts along the back of the cabinets. Thus, no air return inlet opening is provided in the floor of the cabinet. However, a drainage hole is provided in the floor through which any liquids or condensation within the product display zone may pass into a drainage tube to drain to the condensate tray beneath the condenser of the refrigeration unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser wherein a refrigeration unit disposed beneath the product display space is protected from liquid spills and condensation from the product display zone.

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser having a cover superadjacent an air return inlet in the floor of the display cabinet of the merchandiser for preventing liquid spills or condensation from draining through the air return inlet.

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser having a floor having a recessed surface thereon for collecting liquid spills and condensation.

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a refrigerated merchandiser having a grille plate superadjacent an air return inlet for preventing bottle wrappers and other litter from passing through the air return inlet

A refrigerated merchandiser is provided having a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers. A refrigeration unit is disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment beneath the lower wall. An opening in the lower wall provides an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space to the compartment beneath the lower wall. A cover is disposed atop the lower deck superadjacent the air return inlet. The cover includes at least one air intake port lying in a generally vertical plane. The lower wall may be provided with a recessed upper surface facing the product display area for collecting liquid spills and condensation. A grille plate having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough may be disposed beneath the cover to extend atop and across the air return inlet to block wrappers, paper and other litter from passing through the air return inlet.

In a particular embodiment, the refrigerated merchandiser includes a cover including a generally horizontally disposed top plate member having a periphery, a peripheral side flange extending generally vertically downwardly from the periphery of the top plate member to the lower deck thereby supporting the top plate member in space relationship over the air return inlet, and a plurality of air intake ports formed in the peripheral flange at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the plurality of air intake ports providing an air flow path from the interior space to the air return inlet in the lower deck. The cover may also include a base peripheral flange extending generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange adjacent the lower deck. The cover may further include an outwardly protruding flange extending about the periphery of each of the plurality of air intake ports in the peripheral side flange.

In another aspect of the invention, a refrigerated merchandiser is provided having a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers. A refrigeration unit is disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment beneath the lower wall. The lower wall has a recessed upper surface providing a volume for collecting liquid spills and condensation. An opening in the recessed upper surface of the lower wall provides an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space to the compartment beneath the lower wall.

In one aspect of the invention, the refrigerated merchandiser includes a cabinet having a plurality of walls defining an interior space. A refrigeration unit is disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment separated from the interior space by a common wall. An opening in the common wall provides an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space through into the compartment. A grille plate having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough extends across the air return inlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of these and objects of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, where:

FIG. 1 is a sectioned side elevation view of a refrigerated merchandiser in accord with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view, partly in section, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the lower portion of the product display zone of the refrigerated merchandiser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the assembly of the lower deck of the refrigerated merchandiser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, there is depicted a refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, including an interior product display space 100 for holding product 110 to be purchased, such as for example bottled or canned soda, milk, water, juices, fruit drinks, beer and other beverages. Although the invention will be described herein with reference to the depicted embodiment of a refrigerated cold beverage merchandiser, it is to be understood that that invention may be applied to other refrigerated display merchandisers for displaying perishable and frozen comestibles and beverages, including for example meats, poultry, fish, diary products, prepackaged frozen foods, and other products that need to be maintained in a controlled environment.

The beverage merchandiser 10 includes a cabinet 20 defining a refrigerated interior product display space 100 and a separate equipment compartment 55 disposed separate from, and may be heat transfer insulated from, the refrigerated interior product display space 100. The cabinet 20 has a top wall 22 and a surrounding side wall structure including a rear wall 34, a front wall 32, and opposed generally vertically extending side walls 36 and 38. The cabinet also includes a lower wall 24 disposed between the refrigerated interior product display space 100 located there above and the equipment compartment located there beneath. The interior product display space 100 may be accessed from exteriorly of the cabinet 20 through an access opening, which in the depicted embodiment is an open area at the front of the cabinet. This open area may be open to the environment or may be covered, as in the depicted embodiment, by at least one door 40 mounted to the cabinet 20. The door 40 extends across the open area and has a transparent viewing area, for example a glass panel, through which at least a portion of the interior product display space 100 can be viewed. The door 40 is selectively positionable between a closed position covering the open area and an open position in which consumers may access the interior product display space 100 to remove a product for purchase. Although the embodiment of the display merchandiser 10 depicted in the drawing has only one door 40, it is to be understood that the display merchandiser may have one, two, three or more doors that collectively cover the open area when in the closed position. The door or doors 40 may be mounted to the cabinet 20 in a conventional manner, for example on hinges for pivotal movement or on a tract for sliding movement between an open and closed position.

In the depicted embodiment, the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, rear wall 34 and the side walls 36 and 38 are heat transfer insulated for insulating the refrigerated interior product display space 100, from the environment exterior of the interior product display space 100. A plurality of shelves 112 are disposed within the interior product display space 100. The shelves 112 are adapted as appropriate to support the particular product 100 being displayed for purchase. The specific number, arrangement and configuration of the shelves 112 is not germane to the invention and is within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art to select for the particular product 100 being displayed.

A rear panel 134 is provided spaced inwardly of the rear side wall 34 to establish, in part, a refrigerated air supply duct 104 between the rear side wall 34 and a rear panel 134. The interior product display space 100 within the refrigerated interior of the display cabinet 20 is bounded by the top wall 22, the lower wall 24, the side walls 36, 38, and in part by each of the rear wall 34 and the rear panel 134. In the depicted embodiment, refrigerated air enters into the product display space 100 to cool product displayed therein in part through an air outlet 109 at the upper end of the air supply duct 104 and in part through a plurality of openings 135 provided in the rear panel 134. Refrigerated air exits the product display space 100 through an opening 102 provided in the lower wall 24.

The equipment compartment 55 is located within the cabinet 20 beneath the lower wall 24 and is separated by the lower wall 24 from the refrigerated interior product display space 100 of the cabinet 20. The lower wall forms a common wall separating the refrigerated interior display space and the equipment compartment. The lower wall has a top surface that forms the floor or deck of the interior product display space 100 and has an under surface that faces the refrigeration cassette unit 50 of the refrigeration unit 15 housed within the equipment compartment. The refrigeration unit 15 includes an evaporator module, including an evaporator coil 60 disposed within a housing and at least one associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62, a condenser module including a condenser coil 70 and at least one associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and a compressor 74. The evaporator coil 60 and its associated evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 are housed within a first section 53 of the refrigeration unit 50 which is separated by division wall 68 from a second section 57 of the refrigeration unit 50 wherein the condenser coil 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72 and the compressor 74 are housed.

The cassette refrigeration unit 50 comprises a generally rectangular box-like structure having a top flange 52, a base plate 54, and a surrounding structure of side plates 56 extending generally vertically between the top flange 52 and the base plate 54. The division wall 68 extends between the opposed side plates from an upper, forward region of the cassette 50 to the back plate to separate the interior of the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into the aforementioned first section 53 and second section 57. The condenser coil 70, its associated condenser fan/motor assembly 72, and the compressor 74 are mounted to a common support plate, which is adapted to be mounted to the base plate 54, thereby forming the condenser module. The base plate 54 is slidably mounted within the compartment 55 to facilitate disposition of the cassette 50 into and out of the compartment 55 in order to facilitate servicing of the refrigeration equipment therein, including removal and replacement of the evaporator module and the condenser module as distinct units. A condensate tray 76 may be provided to collect condensate dripping from the evaporator coil 60. The condensate tray 76 serves as a condensate evaporation tray wherein condensate collecting therein is evaporated by hot air exhausted from the condenser as the hot air passes over the condensate tray 76.

The evaporator coil 60, the condenser coil 70 and the compressor 74 are coupled in a closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) in a conventional manner for refrigerating air from the interior product display space 100. The condenser fan/motor assembly 72, typically a single fan and motor, is operative, typically only when the compressor 74 is in operation, to draw air from outside the refrigerated merchandiser 10, such as for example from the ambient environment external thereof through the front grille 12 provided in the lower front wall 32 of the cabinet 20, through an opening 59 provided in the front plate 56A of the cassette 50 and through the condenser 70. As the external air passes over the condenser coil 70 in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant being passed therethrough by the compressor 74, the refrigerant is cooled and the air heated. Having traversed the condenser coil 70, this air is exhausted out of the compartment 55 to return to the external environment through exhaust channel 77 formed beneath the first section 53 in the aft portion of the second section 57 of the cassette 50. A portion of the air drawn through the cassette 50 by the condenser fan passes over the compressor 74 to assist in cooling the compressor.

The cooled refrigerant is circulated from the condenser coil 70 through the closed-loop refrigerant circulation circuit (not shown) to the evaporator coil 60. An evaporator fan/motor assembly 62 or a plurality of evaporator fan/motor assemblies 62, operate to draw air into the first section 53 of the refrigeration cassette 50, also referred to as the evaporator compartment, from the interior product display space 100 through air inlet 102 in the lower wall 24 and thence pass the air over the evaporator coil 60 to and through the refrigerated air supply duct 104 to return to the product display space 100. As the circulating air passes over the evaporator coil 60, the air is cooled as it passes in heat exchange relationship with the chilled refrigerant passed through the evaporator coil 60 by the compressor 74 and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated. The evaporator fan 62 circulates refrigerated air having traversed the evaporator coil 60 from the evaporator compartment 53 back into the refrigerated interior product display space 100 through a return air outlet 108 located in the aft portion of the lower wall 24 at the rear of the compartment and opening into refrigerated air supply duct 104.

A sealing system is provided including a sealing member 58 positioned between the lower wall 24 and the refrigeration cassette 50 and a positioning apparatus 150 for placing the refrigeration unit cassette 50 into sealing relationship with the lower wall 24 that separates the refrigerated interior product display space 100 from the equipment compartment 55. The sealing system prevents refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 from the product display space 100 from bypassing the evaporator 60 and instead flowing directly into the inlet 108 to the air supply duct 104 from the air return inlet 102. The sealing system also prevents ambient air from externally of the refrigeration unit cassette 50, such as the ambient air that has been drawn through the front grille 12 to pass through the condenser 70, from being drawn into the refrigerated air returning to the refrigeration unit 15 through the air return inlet 102 in the lower wall 24.

The sealing member 58 may be mounted to the under surface of the lower wall 24 about the opening 102 in the lower wall 24, or may be mounted or simply carried upon to the upper surface of the top flange 52 of the refrigeration unit cassette 50. The sealing member 58 may comprise one or more compressible seals provided on the refrigeration unit cassette 50 which are compressed against the lower wall 24 when the cassette refrigeration unit 50 is raised within the compartment 55 by operation of the positioning apparatus 150. However, the sealing member 58 may also comprise one or more non-compressible seals, such as contact seals, that coact with the respective opposing surfaces of the refrigeration unit cassette and of the common wall separating the refrigerated interior space from the equipment compartment and surrounding the respective openings therein to provide the desired sealing arrangement therebetween when the cassette refrigeration unit 50 is positioned by operation of the lifting apparatus 150 to sandwich the sealing member 58 therebetween.

The refrigerated air within the interior product display space 100 is drawn generally downwardly through the product 110 disposed on the shelves 112 through the return air inlet 102 in the lower wall 24 and into the evaporator compartment 53 by the evaporator fan assembly 62. Referring also now to FIG. 3, a top cover 120 is mounted to the lower wall 24 superadjacent the return air inlet 102. The top cover 120 includes a generally horizontal top plate member 122 having a generally vertical peripheral side flange 124 extending about the periphery of the top plate member 122 and downwardly therefrom to the lower wall 24 thereby supporting the top plate member 122 in spaced relationship over the air inlet 102. In the depicted embodiment, the top plate member 122 is rectangular; therefore the peripheral side flange is four sided. It is to be understood that the top plate member 122 may be of other shapes, including without limitation, for example, circular or ovate. In such cases, the peripheral side flange 124 would simply extend continuously around the periphery thereof. A plurality of intake ports 125 are provided in the peripheral side flange 124 to provide a corresponding plurality of open flow passages between the product display area 100 and the return air inlet 102 in the lower wall 24. The top cover 120 causes the downwardly directed refrigerated air to flow through product in the lower region of the product display space 100 in order to pass through the ports 125, which are in a generally vertical plane, to enter the return air inlet 102, which is in a generally horizontal plane. In doing so, the refrigerated air is blocked from funneling downwardly directly into the return air inlet 102 and provides for more even cooling of product in the lower region of the product display zone 100. The ports 125 are sized as appropriate to collectively provide a desired flow area for the air passing from the product display area 100 through the air return inlet 102.

A peripheral flange 126 may be provided about the periphery of each slot 125 to channel liquid away from the open ports 125. Therefore, liquid from spills or condensation collecting on the top plate member 122 will be prevented by the peripheral flange from dripping into an open port 125. Additionally, a peripheral base flange 128 may be provided about the periphery of the base of the peripheral flange 124 of the top cover 120 so as to extend generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange 124 adjacent the lower deck. The base flange 128 may be formed integrally with the top cover.

Additionally, a grille plate 130 may be provided to extend horizontally beneath and in space relationship to the top plate 122 and across the opening 102 in the lower wall 24. Referring now to FIG. 4, the grille plate 130, which may be a 24 gauge galvanized steel plate, is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 133 therein to provide air flow passages therethrough. The openings 133 are appropriately sized and spaced, for example about 1 inch by about 0.40 inch openings arranged in columns on about 0.6 inch centers and in rows on about 1.16 inch centers, so that the lattice structure 130A of the grille plate 130 will provided adequate air flow passages, but block debris, such as wrappers, paper and other litter that may be entrained in the air being drawn from the product display space 100 through the air return inlet 102, thereby ensuring that such debris does not block the air from passing over the evaporator coil 60. The top cover 120 may be a single-piece molded member and may be made from the same material as the top skin of the deck 24.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the deck 24 may comprise a top skin 24A mounted atop a structural base member 24B. The base member 24B is mounted along its lateral and rear sidewalls to the respective side walls 36 and 38 and the rear wall 34 of the cabinet 20 and extends generally horizontally across the cabinet interior. The base member 24B separates the product display zone 100 from the refrigeration unit compartment 55 and the top skin 24A mounted atop the base member 24B forms the floor of the product display space 100.

The top skin 24A and the base member 24B are provided with respective openings 102A and 102B which comprise the return air inlet 102. The top skin 24A and the base member 24B are also provided with respective openings 108A and 108B along their respective rear portions which comprise the air inlet 108 to the refrigerated air duct 104 at the rear of the cabinet. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top skin 24A of the deck 24 has a recessed surface 24C which extends across that portion of the top skin 24A that lies beneath the product display zone 100. The recessed surface 24C provides a region lower than the intake ports 125 in the top cover 120. Liquid from any spills and/or condensation within the product display zone 100 will collect in this recessed surface 24C and drain away from the intake ports 125, thereby ensuring that the liquid does not pass into through the intake ports and into the evaporator compartment 53.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior product display space, comprising:

a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior product display space;

a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment beneath the lower wall;

an opening in the lower wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space to the compartment beneath the lower wall; and

a cover disposed atop the lower wall superadjacent the air return inlet, the cover including an air flow opening lying in a generally vertical plane.

2. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 1 wherein said an air flow opening comprises a plurality of air inlet ports disposed in a generally vertical peripheral wall of the cover.

3. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 1 further comprising a recessed upper surface provided in the lower wall, the recessed upper surface facing the interior product display space, the air return inlet disposed within the recessed upper surface.

4. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 1 further comprising a grille plate disposed beneath the cover and atop the air return inlet, the grille plate extending generally horizontally across the air return inlet and having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough.

5. A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior product display space, comprising:

a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior product display space;

a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior product display space in a compartment beneath the lower wall;

an opening in the lower wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior product display space to the compartment beneath the lower wall; and

a cover disposed atop the lower deck superadjacent the air return inlet, the cover including a generally horizontally disposed top plate member having a periphery, a peripheral side flange extending generally vertically downwardly from the periphery of the top plate member to the lower deck thereby supporting the top plate member in space relationship over the air return inlet, and a plurality of air intake ports formed in the peripheral flange at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the plurality of air intake ports providing an air flow path from the interior space to the air return inlet in the lower deck.

6. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 5 further comprising a recessed upper surface provided in the lower wall, the recessed upper surface facing the product display space, the air return inlet disposed within the recessed upper surface.

7. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 5 wherein the cover further includes a base peripheral flange extending generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange adjacent the lower wall.

8. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 7 wherein the cover further includes an outwardly protruding flange extending about the periphery of each of the plurality of air intake ports in the peripheral side flange.

9. A refrigerated merchandiser having an interior space housing a product in a refrigerated environment intended for selection by consumers, comprising:

a cabinet having a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall, and side walls defining the interior space, the lower deck having a recessed upper surface facing the interior space;

a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment beneath the lower wall; and

an opening disposed in the recessed upper surface in the lower wall and providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space to the compartment beneath the lower wall.

10. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 9 further comprising a grille plate disposed the cover and atop the air return inlet, the grille plate extending generally horizontally across the air return inlet and having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough.

11. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

a cover disposed atop the lower wall superadjacent the air return inlet, the cover including a generally horizontally disposed top plate member having a periphery, a peripheral side flange extending generally vertically downwardly from the periphery of the top plate member to the lower deck thereby supporting the top plate member in space relationship over the air return inlet, and a plurality of air intake ports formed in the peripheral flange at spaced intervals thereabout, each of the plurality of air intake ports providing an air flow path from the interior space to the air return inlet in the lower wall.

12. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 11 wherein the cover further includes a base peripheral flange extending generally horizontally outwardly from the peripheral side flange adjacent the lower wall.

13. A refrigerated merchandiser as recited in claim 11 wherein the cover further includes an outwardly protruding flange extending about the periphery of each of the plurality of air intake ports in the peripheral side flange.

14. A refrigerated merchandiser having a refrigerated interior space, comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of walls defining the interior space;

a refrigeration unit disposed in operative association with the interior space in a compartment separated from the interior space by one of the plurality of cabinet walls as a common wall;

an opening in the common wall providing an air return inlet establishing a flow passage from the interior space through said common wall into the compartment; and

a grille plate extending across the air return inlet and having a plurality of air flow openings therethrough.